Open letter of the European Union of Private Hospitals (UEHP)
Healthcare systems across Europe are under immense pressure due to increasing demand, aging population and the complexities of integrating innovation. While each country faces unique challenges, common issues persist: shortage of healthcare professionals, changing of willingness to work in demanding positions, long waiting lists, difficulties in accessing cutting-edge treatments, and growing concerns over healthcare financing.
To address these challenges, we need more investment, more healthcare professionals, apprenticeships for future employees and a more efficient use of resources. Equitable access to diagnostics, therapy, and innovative treatments should be guaranteed to all citizens, while allowing each Member State to define the most suitable financing conditions.
Private Hospitals and Clinics: A Crucial Part of the Solution
Private hospitals and clinics play a key role in strengthening healthcare systems. We bring capacity, investment, flexibility, efficiency, and serve as benchmarks for quality in the sector.
Currently, non-public sector hospitals account for an average of 40% of all hospital beds in Europe (Eurostat, 2022: Link). Private hospitals and clinics provide a significant share of hospital activities, including emergency care, consultations, surgeries, and inpatient stays. Every day, we deliver high-quality, safe care to millions of citizens.
As the voice of Europe’s private hospitals and clinics, UEHP is further enhancing its new mandate with a clear objective: to contribute to effective solutions for the sector’s structural challenges. Private hospitals are not just supplementary health providers – they are essential partners with concrete and considerable contribution to the national healthcare systems in all european countries.
Our Commitment
We, the private hospitals and clinics of Europe, are dedicated to:
- Quality of Care
- Sustainable Healthcare
- Pioneering Medicine and Facilities
- Being Agents of Change
Although we have already evolved considerably over the past years, we know we can do even more. For this to happen, all stakeholders in healthcare systems shall take action for:
- Enhancing Sustainability, Efficiency, and Resilience
- Optimizing existing healthcare resources
- Improving healthcare planning and delivery
- Strengthening coordination between public, for-profit, and not-for-profit providers
- Incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven solutions that will enable more precise medical diagnostics and treatments, ameliorate patient management, optimize clinical decision-making and resource allocation and thus further enhance system resilience
- Ensuring Fair and Equitable Service Payments
- Aligning private hospital payment conditions with those of public hospitals
- Regularly updating regulated pricing structures
- Addressing Workforce Shortages and Enhancing Job Attractiveness
- Tackling staff shortages by providing training places and improving working conditions
- Making healthcare careers more appealing to future generations
- Integrating AI-driven solutions that can streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens, support clinical decision-making and thus easing pressure on overburdened systems.
- Improving Healthcare Sustainability and Efficiency
- Continuously assessing and refining healthcare systems
- Optimizing resource utilization while maintaining high-quality care
- Advancing Digital Transformation and Equal Access to European Funding
- Promoting digital integration across all healthcare providers—public, private, and social
- Support the incorporation of emerging AI technologies by adopting a clear, flexible and safe regulation scheme and by funding AI innovation Ensuring fair access to European financial resources for technological advancements
The Time to Act Is Now
The sustainability of our healthcare systems is in our hands. The challenge is urgent, and citizens expect—and deserve—real solutions and the best healthcare.
President of UEHP President of PALMED
Oscar Gaspar Cristian Hotoboc
